Billy the Kid

Henry McCarty is one of Irish history’s less than proud creations. Known as Billy the Kid, William H. Bonney, Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim and eventually just “The Kid”, he was born to Irish parents. After he broke out of prison by escaping through a chimney, he took the phrase “fighting Irish” to a whole new level, wreaking havoc in The Wild West where it is claimed he killed 21 men – or one for each year of his colourful life. He was shot dead in 1881 by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who was also of Irish descent.